Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Leh on Friday.

Weeks after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in the violent Galwan clashes with China, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday visited Leh to review the ongoing border conflict with Chinese troops. This is the first high profile visit from the executive leadership to the region ever since the border standoff started in early May.

The Prime Minister, accompanied by Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, arrived at Nimu, a forward location, and interacted with the Army, Air Force and ITBP personnel earlier this morning.

He is scheduled to meet the injured soldiers as well as the local military leadership, including Lt. General Harinder Singh, XIV Corps Commander among other senior officers.

The area is located among the tough terrains at 11,000 feet, on the banks of the river Indus, and is surrounded by the Zanskar range.

While paying tributes to the soldiers during his Mann ki Baat address on Sunday, Modi had said: “Those who cast an evil eye on Indian soil in Ladakh have got a befitting response. India honours the spirit of friendship… she is also capable of giving an appropriate response to any adversary, without shying away. Our brave soldiers have proven that they will not let anyone cast an evil eye on the glory and honour of Mother India.”

Earlier, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was scheduled to visit Ladakh today, along with Army Chief General MM Naravane, but that was deferred on Thursday.

Naravane has visited Ladakh twice ever since the standoff began. While he had just visited the XIV Corps headquarters in Leh in May, he met the injured soldiers in Leh and also visited the forward areas during his two-day visit in June.